10 Essential Resources Every Motion Designer Should Know
From free tools to premium plugins, here are the resources that will level up your motion design workflow.
Whether you're just starting out or have been animating for years, having the right resources in your toolkit makes all the difference. We've curated 10 essential resources from our own library that every motion designer should bookmark.
1. After Effects — The Industry Standard
Still the backbone of most motion design workflows. After Effects remains unmatched for compositing, motion graphics, and visual effects. If you're serious about motion, this is non-negotiable.
2. Blender — Free & Open Source Powerhouse
Blender has exploded in popularity and for good reason — it's completely free and rivals paid 3D software. From modeling to animation to rendering, it does it all. The community and plugin ecosystem are incredible.
3. Cinema 4D — The 3D Designer's Best Friend
Cinema 4D is beloved for its intuitive interface and powerful MoGraph module. It's the go-to for studios creating broadcast design, product visualization, and abstract 3D motion pieces.
4. AEscripts — Plugin Paradise
AEscripts is the marketplace for After Effects plugins. From Overlord to Flow, the tools here can save you hours of manual work and add capabilities that AE doesn't have natively.
5. AEUX — Figma to After Effects Bridge
AEUX lets you transfer designs from Figma directly into After Effects. If you work with UI designers or handle product animations, this free tool is a game-changer.
6. Animation Composer — Instant Presets
Animation Composer by Mister Horse gives you drag-and-drop animation presets. Perfect for tight deadlines or when you need a starting point for transitions and text animations.
7. Animography — Animated Type Done Right
Animography offers beautifully crafted animated typefaces. If you do a lot of kinetic typography work, their fonts will elevate your projects instantly.
8. Cavalry — The Future of Procedural 2D
Cavalry is a relatively new player that's turning heads. It brings procedural, node-based animation to 2D motion design — think data-driven graphics, generative patterns, and complex systems with minimal keyframes.
9. Art of the Title — Title Sequence Inspiration
Art of the Title documents the best title sequences in film and television. It's both an educational resource and an endless source of inspiration for narrative motion design.
10. Artlist — Music & SFX That Fits
Artlist provides royalty-free music and sound effects that actually sound professional. Great audio transforms good motion into great motion — never underestimate sound design.
Explore More
These are just the start. We have over 150 resources curated on Motionimo, organized by category — from 3D tools to color palettes to creative podcasts. Browse the full collection here.